The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | UNICEF
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: COVID-19 Backlog in Vaccine Shipments - UNICEF
UNICEF calls for support to unblock massive backlog in vaccine shipments
UNICEF is calling for support to unblock a massive backlog in vaccine shipments due to unprecedented logistical constraints related to COVID-19 lockdowns in some countries.
Speaking at a virtual press conference at the UN in Geneva, UNICEF’s spokesperson Marixie Mercado said that “as of today (May 1), dozens of countries are at risk of stock-out due to delayed vaccine shipments”. She added that “at most risk are 26 countries that are difficult to reach due to limited commercial and cargo options. Among these, at least five countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2019 and many more remain at risk”.
Since the week of March 22, UNICEF has seen a 70-80 per cent reduction of planned vaccine shipments due to the dramatic decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
Compounding the challenge is the exorbitant cost of securing flights, with freight rates at 100-200 percent above normal and charter flights even more costly. “Countries with limited resources will struggle to pay these higher prices, leaving children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio”, UNICEF’s spokesperson said.
In 2019, UNICEF procured 2.43 billion doses of vaccines for 100 countries, to reach approximately 45 per cent of all children below the age of five years.
UNICEF estimates that 20 million children below the age of one every year were dropping out of their measles and polio vaccines even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNICEF’s spokesperson warned that “disruptions in routine immunization, particularly in countries with weak health systems, could lead to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond”.
The biggest part of vaccines currently not reaching countries, are intended for routine immunization programmes. Because of the delay, countries have been using buffer stocks. As transport challenges persist, countries are at increasing risk of a vaccine stock-out.
“The extended delays in shipments also pose a huge risk to manufacturers, who must store the excess vaccine stocks, and may be required to postpone future production if their warehouse storage space is exceeded”, Ms Mercado said.
UNICEF has been working with manufacturers and partners, including WHO, the vaccine alliance GAVI, PAHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to find solutions. However, many countries will require additional funding support.
“We are appealing to governments, the private sector, the airline industry, and others, to free up freight space at affordable cost for these life-saving vaccines and to work with us to find ways around the transport disruptions we face. Children’s lives are at stake”, said UNICEF’s spokesperson.
1. Wide shot: exterior, Place des Nations, Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (EN) – Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “As of today (May 1), dozens of countries are at risk of stock-out due to delayed vaccine shipments. At most risk are 26 countries that are difficult to reach due to limited commercial and cargo options. Among these, at least five countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2019 and many more remain at risk”.
3. Medium shot: United Nations, Geneva with flag alley
4. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “Countries with limited resources will struggle to pay these higher prices, leaving children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio”.
5. Wide shot: UN Geneva with flag alley
6. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “Disruptions in routine immunization, particularly in countries with weak health systems, could lead to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond”.
7. Medium shot: UN Geneva with flag alley
8. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “The extended delays in shipments also pose a huge risk to manufacturers, who must store the excess vaccine stocks, and may be required to postpone future production if their warehouse storage space is exceeded.”
9. Wide shot: Flags in front of UN Geneva
10. SOUNDBITE (EN) Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson: “UNICEF is appealing to governments, the private sector, the airline industry, and others, to free up freight space at affordable cost for these life-saving vaccines. And to work with us to find ways around the transport disruptions we face. Children’s lives are at stake”.
11. Medium shot, UN flag at UN, Geneva.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation
As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu.,
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO
Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.